Mining

The NWT mining industry is dominated by diamond mining, with three operating mines, and one under development (Gahcho Kue). Together, the three operating mines account for more than one-quarter of total GDP. Other possible mines before 2020 include Prairie Creek, Nico, Yellowknife Gold and Nachalacho. Taken together, these five projects could add over 1,700 new jobs to the economy by 2017, offsetting declines from the planned closure of Ekati scheduled for 2019.

Interest has also bene shown n the Kennedy North diamond project near Gatcho Kue. A number of promising gold projects are under development. Fortune Minerals NICO projec6t contains proven and probable mineral reserves of 21.8 million tonnes containing 760,000 ounces of gold, 61 million pounds of cobalt, and 77 million pounds of bismuth.